Research Notes Revelation and Political Philosophy: What Is Islamization of Knowledge? Charles E. Butterworth This is a "work in progress" presentation based on mearch I am now conducting about the development of Islamic political philosophy during the classical period of Islam. My contention is that a better understanding of that tradition puts the current debate about Islamic fundamentalism or resurgence into a new perspective. Behind the sensational, popular de- mands for greater adherence to the strictures of the revealed law of Islam lies an issue of fundamental importance: how divine revelation is to be u n d e r s t d and interpreted for political guidance. Those who developed Islamic political philosophy spoke directly to this issue and did so in a manner that merits the attention of contemporary Muslim activists, schol- ars interested in Islam, and thoughtful human beings in general. They thought clearly about the relationship between religious belief and political practice because they addressed the issue ditectly and without preconceptions. Consequently, whatever our religious and cultural origins, we can benefit greatly from their teaching. One of my goals is to refocus current social science scholarship while engaging Muslim scholars in debate on topics they deem urgent. Lately, there have been many, perhaps too many, reports and prognostics con- cerning the success of resurgent Islam as well as the challenges it poses to Middle Eastern and western regimes. Such studies invariably talk about, rather than with, those calling for greater attention to Islamic pre- cepts and practices; they presuppose and reinforce an attitude of "us" and "our valued' vetSUS "them" and "their values." Such a posture not only fosters antagonism and misunderstanding, it also ignores the way Muslims are now addressing this complex phenomenon. Indeed, for almost a decade, Muslims trained in the West have been investigating how western learning, especially the social sciences, illumi- nates traditional Islamic sciences and vice versa. This task addresses, at the highest level, the issue behind the call for application of the Shari'ah and offers the best Contemporary possibility of achieving some kind of intercultural understanding. It offers those interested in western and Is- lamic culture a unique opportunity to delve mare deeply into another cul- ture and thereby understand the other and their own culture better. Another goal is to investigate how philosophers within the classical period of Islam understood revelation and its outward manifestation- prophecy-to influence political life. While mast scholars recognize the 250 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 1 0 2 important contributions of al Fzirai, Ibn Sinii (Avicenna), and Ibn Rushd (Averroes) to political philosophy, few pay attention to a1 Kindi and a1 RHzi. I begin with the latter two, for their reflections on Socrates, Plato, and Anstotle provided the basic framework for later philosophical investi- gation. As I see it, a dialogue was carried on over the centuries among these thinkers, with al FiirZbi modifying and revising the teaching of his predecessors, being revised in turn by Ibn Sinii, and then having his teaching restored to some extent by Ibn Rushd Now more than ever before it is necessary for both western and Mus- lim scholars to reconsider the way they speak about political well-being, about the separation between the private and the public or between reli- gious belief and communal doctrine, and about revelation or divine in- spiration. It would be presumptuous of me to claim to know as much about Islam as a leamed Muslim, but I do know alot about a very impor- tant part of Islamic cultute-one that is at the center of this hot debate. My analysis of the development of Islamic political philosophy, cast in the terms outlined here, thus serves as an important step towards the &a- logue we in the West need to begin with our non-westem colleagues. Charles Butteworth Professor of Government University of Maryland College Park, Maryland